Fatty acid 16:4(n-3) stimulates a GPR120-induced signaling cascade in splenic macrophages to promote chemotherapy resistance

Although chemotherapy is designed to eradicate tumor cells, it also has significant effects on normal tissues. The platinum-induced fatty acid 16:4(n-3) (hexadeca-4,7,10,13-tetraenoic acid) induces systemic resistance to a broad range of DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics. We show that 16:4(n-3) exerts its effect by activating splenic F4/80+/CD11blow macrophages, which results in production of chemoprotective lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs). Pharmacologic studies, together with analysis of expression patterns, identified GPR120 on F4/80+/CD11blow macrophages as the relevant receptor for 16:4(n-3). Studies that used splenocytes from GPR120-deficient mice have confirmed this conclusion. Activation of the 16:4(n-3)-GPR120 axis led to enhanced cPLA2 activity in these splenic macrophages and secretion of the resistance-inducing lipid mediator, lysophosphatidylcholine(24:1). These studies identify a novel and unexpected function for GPR120 and suggest that antagonists of this receptor might be effective agents to limit development of chemotherapy resistance.—Houthuijzen, J. M., Oosterom, I., Hudson, B. D., Hirasawa, A., Daenen, L. G. M., McLean, C. M., Hansen, S. V. F., van Jaarsveld, M. T. M., Peeper, D. S., Jafari Sadatmand, S., Roodhart, J. M. L., van de Lest, C. H. A., Ulven, T., Ishihara, K., Milligan, G., Voest, E. E. Fatty acid 16:4(n-3) stimulates a GPR120-induced signaling cascade in splenic macrophages to promote chemotherapy resistance

Нейроендокринний супровід поліваріантних ефектів біоактивної води Нафтуся на рівень хронічного стресу у жінок з різним оваріальним статусом

Проанализированы изменения нейроэндокринных показателен, сопутствующие поливариантным эффектам биоактивной воды Нафтуся курорта Трускавец на уровень хронического стресса у женщин детородного возраста с различным овариальным статусом. Обнаружена значительная (R=0,59) каноническая корреляционная связь между динамикой нейро-гормонального индекса стресса, с одной стороны, и вегетативной реактивности, лютеинизирующего гормона, тиреотропного гормона, тироксина и прогестерона - с другой стороны.The changes in neuroendocrine parameters, concomitant multivariate effects of bioactive water Naftussya spa Truskavets to the level of chronic stress in women of childbearing age with different ovarian status. A significant (R=0,59) canonical correlation between the dynamics of the neuro-hormonal index of stress, on the one hand, and autonomic reactivity, luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine and progesterone - the other side

CD26-negative and CD26-positive tissue-resident fibroblasts contribute to functionally distinct CAF subpopulations in breast cancer

The origin of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in cancer remains to be identified. Here, single-cell transcriptomics, in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that CD26+ and CD26- normal fibroblasts transform into distinct CAF subpopulations in mouse models of breast cancer

Amygdala 14-3-3ζ as a Novel Modulator of Escalating Alcohol Intake in Mice

Alcoholism is a devastating brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. The development of alcoholism is caused by alcohol-induced maladaptive changes in neural circuits involved in emotions, motivation, and decision-making. Because of its involvement in these processes, the amygdala is thought to be a key neural structure involved in alcohol addiction. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern the development of alcoholism are incompletely understood. We have previously shown that in a limited access choice paradigm, C57BL/6J mice progressively escalate their alcohol intake and display important behavioral characteristic of alcohol addiction, in that they become insensitive to quinine-induced adulteration of alcohol. This study used the limited access choice paradigm to study gene expression changes in the amygdala during the escalation to high alcohol consumption in C57BL/6J mice. Microarray analysis revealed that changes in gene expression occurred predominantly after one week, i.e. during the initial escalation of alcohol intake. One gene that stood out from our analysis was the adapter protein 14-3-3ζ, which was up-regulated during the transition from low to high alcohol intake. Independent qPCR analysis confirmed the up-regulation of amygdala 14-3-3ζ during the escalation of alcohol intake. Subsequently, we found that local knockdown of 14-3-3ζ in the amygdala, using RNA interference, dramatically augmented alcohol intake. In addition, knockdown of amygdala 14-3-3ζ promoted the development of inflexible alcohol drinking, as apparent from insensitivity to quinine adulteration of alcohol. This study identifies amygdala 14-3-3ζ as a novel key modulator that is engaged during escalation of alcohol use

GREM1 signaling in cancer: tumor promotor and suppressor?

GREMLIN1 (GREM1) is member of a family of structurally and functionally related secreted cysteine knot proteins, which act to sequester and inhibit the action of multifunctional bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). GREM1 binds directly to BMP dimers, thereby preventing BMP-mediated activation of BMP type I and type II receptors. Multiple reports identify the overexpression of GREM1 as a contributing factor in a broad range of cancers. Additionally, the GREM1 gene is amplified in a rare autosomal dominant inherited form of colorectal cancer. The inhibitory effects of GREM1 on BMP signaling have been linked to these tumor-promoting effects, including facilitating cancer cell stemness and the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts. Moreover, GREM1 has been described to bind and signal to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and stimulate angiogenesis, as well as epidermal and fibroblast growth factor receptor (EGFR and FGFR) to elicit tumor-promoting effects in breast and prostate cancer, respectively. In contrast, a 2022 report revealed that GREM1 can promote an epithelial state in pancreatic cancers, thereby inhibiting pancreatic tumor growth and metastasis. In this commentary, we will review these disparate findings and attempt to provide clarity around the role of GREM1 signaling in cancer. Cancer Signaling networks and Molecular Therapeutic

Alcohol intake and preference for C57BL/6J mice that consumed alcohol for 1, 2 or 4 weeks.

<p><b><i>A</i></b> The mice show a progressive increase in alcohol intake during the first two weeks of the experiment, stabilizing thereafter. <b><i>B</i></b> Preference for alcohol was high throughout the experiment. <b><i>C</i></b> RNA for microarray analysis was isolated from 0.6 mm diameter punches (<b>○</b>) from serial sections through the CeA. <b><i>D</i></b> The majority of the gene expression changes occurred after 1 week of alcohol consumption; the bar graph shows the total numbers of up- (black) and down-regulated (grey) genes for each time-point while the Venn Diagram shows the total number of up- and down-regulated genes (marked by arrows) for each time-point and overlap between the experimental groups. <b><i>E–F</i></b> Analysis of the microarray data using the <i>Short Time Series Expression Miner (STEM</i>), revealed significant gene enrichment particularly during the early stages of escalation of alcohol intake (week 1 and/or week 2). When considering all possible time profiles for gene expression after 1 wk, 2 wk and 4 wk of alcohol consumption, relative to data from naïve control mice (exemplified by <b><i>E</i></b>), 6 time profiles showed significant gene enrichment: they represented more genes than expected based on chance (<b><i>F</i></b>). The commonality between these 6 significant time profiles is that they all show an initial change in gene expression, normalizing thereafter to baseline levels.</p

Gene Enrichment analysis in STEM.

<p>Gene Ontology analysis for the significant time profiles 45 and 47 in STEM revealed significant enrichment of genes involved in transport, ion transport, ligand-gated ion channel activity, synaptic transmission, cytoplasm and protein transport. Highlighted are the selected <b>8 top candidate genes</b>.</p

qPCR data for mice that consumed alcohol for 1 week or 2 weeks.

<p>qPCR confirmed significant up-regulation of 4 out of 8 candidate genes when compared to naïve control mice: Gria3, 14-3-3 zeta, Gabrb3 and Prkacb. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 from naïve mice by Tukey HSD multiple comparisons.</p

Effects of local knockdown of 14-3-3ζ in the CeA on alcohol consumption. <i>A</i>

<p>Local knockdown of 14-3-3ζ in the CeA using the 1854 shRNA increased intake of a 10% alcohol solution (v/v). <b><i>B</i></b> Infection with the less effective 1222 shRNA also increased alcohol intake of a 10% alcohol solution (v/v), but less prominently so than the 1854 14-3-3ζ shRNA. <b><i>C</i></b> In a separate batch of mice, local knockdown of 14-3-3ζ in the CeA using the 1854 shRNA increased alcohol intake of a 15% alcohol solution (v/v) and <b><i>D</i></b> local knockdown of 14-3-3ζ in the CeA using the 1854 shRNA caused persistent preference for the alcohol solution despite adulteration with the bitter tastant quinine. In <b><i>E</i></b> the sites of viral infection in the brain are summarized. The black ellipses show the core of the infection site that was consistently targeted across all animals. The areas marked in grey represent less frequent infected sites that include the anterior amygdala, the basolateral amygdala and part of the caudate putamen, along the injection tract. • Control mice; <b>○</b> 14-3-3ζ-specific shRNA treated mice. * P<0.05 from controls; # P<0.05, ## P<0.01 from 0 μM quinine for mice treated with control lentivirus; $ P <0.05 from 0 μM quinine for mice treated with the 1854 14-3-3ζ shRNA expressing lentivirus by <i>t</i>-test.</p

Taste control experiments show that the increase in alcohol intake in mice with CeA 14-3-3ζ knockdown is not secondary to altered taste sensitivity.

<p>Control mice and mice with CeA 14-3-3ζ knockdown showed equal intake of solutions containing <i>A</i> the caloric sweet tastant sucrose and <i>B</i> the non-caloric sweet tastant saccharin. <i>C</i> Aversion for the bitter tastant quinine was also not different between controls and mice with CeA 14-3-3ζ knockdown.</p